Electric weft detector for looms



Dec. 18, 1945. R. G. TURNER 2,391,365 4 ELECTRIC WEFT DETECTOR FOR LoomsFiled Sept. 23, 1944 2 Sheets-sheaf. 1'

- Inventor Richard G. Iur'n'or' MMWM A140 rneu R. TURNER 2,391,365

ELECTRIC WEFT DETECTOR'FO R LOOMS Filed Sept. 23, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2fi& 5

. Eli-T U as I/ 50 f 76 ,30; 567

In vcn tor V Richard, G. Turner QAM TM 1Q uornell Patented Dec. 18, 1945UNITED AT YN T OFF ELEGTRIC WEET DETECTOR FOR LOOMS Richard G. Turner,Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom 'Works, Worcester,

e inetei 'e of M s heiee' Application September 23, 1944, Serial No.555,447

17 l -aimsinvention-relatesto .improvementsuin electricalxweft detectorsforlooms and .it-.is:,the general object of .the iinvent-ion .to providea .Weft detector with ia-sideslippin'g detectorfingerzmovable-angiilarly atlthextime' of indication of Weft exhaustionto close ian'electric contact.

ltiis a :further object poffmy present invention to provide a:weftide-te'ctor with a detecting unit slidablewithin a casing orhousingand including an arm or'-.the like extending laterally from thedetectorfin'ger forzen'gagement with'the electric contact.

It is'another object :of':my=ipresent: invention to hold the detectorfingerrrearwardly bya springer the T like which lengage'sithe aforesaidlateral aar n and forces the latter against :a fixed "part f the weftdetector for the purpose of :restoring the finger to normal :positionafteruta detecting :operatioh.

It is still another object of.my present invention to provide adetectorhavingia'casing Lm'ade of upper and lower parts .onezof whichis? made- 0f electric insulating mate'ri'aland is provided with a lug orenlargement which'carries' theaaforesaid electric contact and alsoprovides al flatisur'face against whichthe lateral :arm isnormally heldby the previoiisly mentionedspring. One wall of the casing forming.members' is notched .to receive thelug for the purpose offia'ssistin'gin 'holding the'two parts of the detector casing in proper workingposition.

It is a further object of 'my present .inventionito provide an electricweft detector of .su'ch'construction that the detector finger whenindicating weft, exhaustion moves through a primary stage around onepivot to establish" contactwith an e ectrical part,'"such asa bindingpost or'contact, and thereafter moves aboutthefcontact a's'a centerduring' t'he secondary istage'ofindication.

With these and other 'objects'in'view which will appear es '-thedescription proceed'sfmy invention resides in the combination andarrangement-of arts hereinafter descri ed and set forth;

' the accompanyingdrawings whereina convenient e mbodiinent ofmyinvention is set-forth, I

Fi l'is'a front elevation are portion of aweft replenishing loom havingmy improved weft detector applied thereto;

Fig. 2is a horizontalenlarged section on-line 2'2ofFig.1, L

Fig. 3 is a vertical section online 3 -3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a planView of thel'det'ectOrwitHthe upper part of the casing removed, andshowing the' detector moved forwardly by anarnple supply of 'we ft onthebo'bbin being detected; A

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 .butindicating the movement of --the-detector finger during the first stage of "the detecting operationwhenindicating weft 'exhau'stion,

Fig; dis a 'viewsimilar to -Fig.'5-but showing completion of the secondstage of amovement of the detector 'finger whenindicat'ing-1weft"exhaustion,

Fig.7 is a and Fig. 8 is a rear elevation looking -in thedirectionbfarrow' fl, Fig.2. 1

Referring to Fig. '1, I have shown a=-loom frame l0 .having "fixedthereto a stand II which "supports a bobbin magazineM providedwith:re'sei've bobbins W. The looniai's provided w'ith'ailay l2 havingiashuttle boxl3'the-front'wall l4-ofwhich is" formedwith -'a horizontal:feeler slot 15. stand l.l' supports a'relative'lyilarge stud LIBwonwhichis'mounted ablock 'orlthe like l-J in the lowerpazit .ofwhich a'carrier 18 isimountedifor sliding movement towardand Efrem *the shuttlebox. securedlt'o the front of' the c'arri'er'iis a detector'support I9which extends "to the right-from vertical section on line 1-Tfof'Fi'g.12,

thecarrier 18 to :a position in front orthe S1011,

l5. The' carrier and support i|9 are normally stationary but can i bemoved forwardly :by mechanism"not"shown a't the time of transfer. *Thematter" thus far described ofLitself' forms no :Epart of my 'presentinvention butis' stfor'th zto 'i'ndicate; one manner of use-of theinventionto' be set forth hereinafter.

'lfhe detector D forming the subject matter of my invention is formed of.topandibottom" shells or m mbers 25 and '26, respectively, the uppershell having integral therewith a .laterally'iextending foot -21 slottedas at 28 to receiveaLbblt 29 which passes-through the support :I9. nilt33 on the upper end of the bolt :29 serves to hold the she1125'in rigidposition with r'espect 'to' th'e support [9, butpermits adjustment ofthe shell in-the direction of "the length'of thelay'and also permitsangular adjustrnent relatively to th'esupport.

The upper shell or mern'ber 25 isprovidedwith a "flat thin horizontalweb 35 which lies "alon the under'siirfa'ce of the support l 9"'and isprovided on the under side thereofwithsp'aced depending ribs 36 whichextendin a direction towa r d and from the slot-.15. 'A "dependingtubular bearing 31 integral'with web 35'r'e'ceives a screw 38 the head'39 Of WhiCh-is'flUsh with the top or shell'25 "and"botton'i'of'snpportt9. A peripheral fwan 40 depends from the web 35 and' is formed with adepending tongu'e l I. 'lhe shelljor 'ine'm- -thereinto the lower end ofscrew 38.

her 25 is perfectly metallic so that an electrical current can passtherefrom to support l9 which is electrically grounded to the frame ofthe loom.

The bottom shell or member 26 is formed with a thin horizontal web 45similar to web 35 and provided with spaced upwardly extending ribs 46similar to the rib 36. An upright tubular bearing 41 is integral withthe web 45 and engages the depending bearing 31 and also has threadedThe web 45 has extending upwardly therefrom a peripheral wall 48abutting wall 46. The left hand portion of wall 48 is provided with anotch 49 which receives the aforesaid tongue 4|. The latter fits intothe notch 48 and cooperates with the screw 39 to prevent angularmovement of the two shells or members 25 and 26. The bottom shell 26 ispreferably made of an electric insulating material, such as a plastic,although this is not essential so far as certain features of theinvention are concerned.

The rear part of the peripheral wall 4 8 is provided with an enlargedintegral lug 56 which projects behind the rear part of shell 25 andabove the top of wall 48, see Fig. '1. Lug 56 fits between and engagesthe opposite ends and 52 of the depending wall 46 on the upper shell 25,see Fig. 8. Engagement of the lug 56 with the wall ends 5| and 52 servesfurther to hold the two parts of the shell in fixed angular positionwith respect to each other.

It is thus seen that the two shells have their walls in engagement witheach other and that the screw 38 holds the shells together as indicatedin Figs. 3 and '7 and further that the tongue 4| and the lug 56cooperate with those parts of the walls which they engage to hold thetwo shells in correct angular position. The webs 35 and 45 arevertically spaced and together with the side walls define an interiorcompartment designated generally at C in which is located certain partsof the detecting mechanism.

As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 a backwardly and forwardly'extending rod66 is spaced intermediate the webs 35 and 45 and enters the lug 56 as at6|. The forward part of rod 66 is held in two aligned notches, one ofthem indicated at 62 being in the top wall 46 and the other indicated at63 being in the bottom wall 48. When the two shells are held together asalready described the rod is held in fixed position with respect tothem.

The detector element designated generally at 65 comprises a wire 66 tothe rear end of which is secured a detector tip 61. The forward end ofwire' 66 is secured to a sliding carrier 68 which may preferably beformed of sheet metal of such a height as to fit loosely between theribs 36 and 46. The carrier 68 is provided with a lateral arm 69 whichengages the rear vertical fiat surface 16 of the lug 56 under normalconditions. The wire 66 is secured to this arm and the carrier has aforwardly extending part 1| terminating in a laterally bent end 12extending between certain of the ribs 36 and 46.

A flat spring 15 is located between the top and bottom shells 25 and 26and is of general U- shaped form as shown for instance in Figs. 4 to 6.This spring is located between and slides along the left hand ribs 36and 46 as seen in Fig. 6. The rear end of rod 66 passes through the rearend 16 of the spring 15, while the forward end of the rod 66 passesthrough the front end 11 of the spring. The rod therefore positions theends of the spring. The rod 86-also passes through a hole 18-, see Fig.4, in the lateral arm 69 against which the rear end 16 of the springpresses due to its own resilience.

The lug 56 has threaded thereinto a contact screw or binding post 86held in position by a lock nut 8| which is behind and out of contactwith the top shell 25. A cap screw 82 holds a wire 83 against the nut 8|to establish electrical connection with the screw. The wire 83 extendsto any convenient form of loom controlling electric circuit not shownwhich of itself forms no part of my present invention. It is thoughtsufficient to state that when arm 69 engages screw 86 an electricalcontact will be closed the effect of which will be to close a loomcontrolling circuit.

The shell 26 has been described hereinbefore as made of electricinsulating material, but I have also made it of metal and fastened thelug 56 to it so that the screw 86 is insulated from the shell 26.

Under normal conditions the detector finger 65, lateral arm 69, and fiatspring 15 are in the relative position shown in full lines in Fig. 5with the arm 69 held yieldingly against the forward vertical surface 16of the lug or block 56. Under these conditions arm 69 is out of contactwith screw 86. If an ample supply of weft is present on bobbin B duringthe detecting operation the teeth on the detector tip will be heldagainst lateral slipping with respect to the bobbin and the parts willslide forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4 with little or noangular movement on the part of the detector finger 65. During thismovement the arm 69 is guided between the ribs of the top and bottomshells and the forward lateral extension 12 engages the upper adjacentrib 36 to hold the detector in its proper detecting position against theaction of gravity. The rod 66 also serves to guide the detector element65 during this motion.

If the detector engages an empty bobbin as indicated in Fig. 5 as thelay advances the teeth of the tip 61 will slide to the right along thebobbin to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 5. During thismovement the spring 15 tends to urge the arm 69 rearwardly'and thelatter turns around a corner or shoulder 85 of the lug 56 as a pivotuntil the extreme left end of the arm 69 engages the screw as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 5. Movement of the parts from the full to thedotted line position in Fig. 5 may be considered as the initial stage ofindication, upon completion of which electric contact is establishedbetween the arm 68 and the screw 86. As the lay continues to advance thefulcrum for arm 68 shifts from the shoulder to the screw 86 and thedetector finger 65 undergoes a further angular movement to the right.Movement of the parts from the dotted line position of Fig. 5 to theposition shown in Fig. 6 and back again to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 5 as the lay reciprocates may be considered as the secondstage of the detecting operation during which screw 86 serves as thefulcrum for the detector 65. The hole 18 is sufficiently large to permitthe angular motionsindicated in Figs. 5 and 6.

The right hand side of the lug 56 is provided with a wall 86 whichengages the left side of the forward part of the rod 66 and cooperateswith the rod 66 and spring 15 to hold the detector in the normalposition shown in full lines in Fig. 5. The short forward lateralextension 12 of the carrier 68 is preferably of such length that it doesnot engage the rod 66 during any part of the detecting operation,otherwise the detector through the "spring 15 iiifihfi h I wauld didezmrimardlya one t e and and th am 169 139 vbxeak icontaat with :thezsrew d0,

The math ZQfi he ground d want of the c ma t through the detector maytak se ra a cess sillhus, the weiehtzcf the rear, n tci the ide eteelement rw-illwbe suc as to e e t-an u wa dz am 0111 1 118 :shmtjlatenaliextension :12 c u n the latnor to (en a e t e rib 3 h reove Theground may also e established bet een the arm 5 9, th radii" a dthetonshell 5 iatithe mint-wh re the endof 51 i n ersinotch .6 {A path andth on on wh ch chiefly 9 1 .6? is :rear ma t 'th shr e is :n shed a ainst e -5 tohare go d electrical icontact th rewith, w: 1e ath fem/and partof the sprin l e eases thepeninh ral wa D of the to zmetal shell. I oder i insureeonteat :h tw en z heisprins and the wal M t e i a terzi wined as at @8 1 wherei rcont cts Withth fr nt end 11" of the nri s- Menthe detector c mple es lhe first sta e o ts d tect n m vement the rearpart of the asl lin l5 will 1 @11 l k lihood be moved aga nst the :rod60 so-tha th p ng -aand :th modes hsh para le ounded path The s rew 8!is m e ad usta le s th t zit can be moved toward and from the arm fiatoshorten Or zl ns e the first sta e o the det ct n operation. ,-If it ;isfound for ,instanoe ithatiany particularide c cr-mad raccordin tomv nrsen ginvention as subject to vibration in a dire tion i om the mll linetoward the dotted lineposition in Big. illelscrewiflo ma ib a e ed ea wad yis 3 453 2 avoid undesir bl lcon a wi th rm 6 :due t such vibration.

The-rear m rt 1-16 of the spring normally ie along that ,part of the arm59 adjacent to the rod Jill when the parts are :in the ,ful1'lineposttion shown .in Fig. :5. Because :of sthe angular movement of thedetector arm the point of a contact between the spring and the latterarm {59 willimovet thari hta i e e crfineerfmoves sin u rl there yapplyin ;p e sure t the arm along at se1?i es of -points which moveprogressively away from the screw ,89. 'The spring therefore becomesincreasingly effective to maintain good contact between ,the arm to and-,the-.- c B during the second stage of the detecting operation.

In order to prevent binding of the spring vl egthe' latter ;is formedwith a hole s88 ;=slightly larger than vrod 6.0, see Fig. 3,, andiasmall pin :89 on "jl'fll'l 6,9 limits movement ;of the spring end 3-5 tothe righti as,viewedforinstance in Fig.6.

Erom theforegoing it twilLbefiseen that Lhave provided a simple form ofside slipping electrioally indicating .Wef-t detector {comprising ,aeasing formedof a ipair of shell members held tegether (normally infixed :angular ,position loy ;the screw 5138 1 and the ;interengaging;parts of the -peripheral walls and tongue-M .and highs. Itwill furtherbe seen .that the detector moves through two st -es engivinga m l t i diat n, th first stage being .-cqmp eted when ieo tact is 1 w shed-bweenthe lateralarm ,6 9 and; thescrew 8 0 and (thesecond stagecontinuing thereafter during whichc nta t i sestabl shed. It wi1 -a s benoted that the rspring acts -by angula movemerit of the arm .6,9 toapply its forcegat progressively increasing distances from the screw 8 9as ,the detector .55 oompletes tits angular mcyementtothe rightduringithe secondstage, thereby insuring good contact. ,It will also beiseen that multiple paths .are provided through the deter;- tor betweenfthe top metallic ls'hejll thereof and thezscrewdfli fur h rm rat ercfio serves {as a uid fer the idetee or and sp in as Well as sti ts in"conta t betw en he short a d latral-ar a d t eimet ll ez b cv r-t poide :aneth i rcu d d at to e d t to Eur h r n re the p vot around whicarm 1 urn shifts f c r er O 7 Q C Q 5 t SQ B '39 at {the end of thefirst stage of indioation.

h in t d s r ed my in ent o it w l sb eeni h cha e andim d fi at nsmabe; d therein by those skilledin theartwithout-denartins l trom the s irand scen -1 the nventi and I d. not w sh t be l m ted to th det l hereindisclosed, but what'l elaim is: v

1. lnza side slippingelectricallyindicating weft detector having aibody, guide means extending back a dly a d .-c ,a yth od-y a :weitdetector .memb er ymounted for sliding and langular 1novement on saidbody, ,a lateral arm-onthe detector member slidablezalong :and movableangularly relatively to said guide means, astop on the body for thelateral .arm, a spring vmounted on the :body engaging the lateral armand .n ormally holding the latter against thestop .to locate thedetector member in normal .position, and an electric .contact insulated.from the bodyand nor.- mally out of contact withsaidrarm,,saidxdetector member when .moving angularly relatively .to thebody causing said .arm to move .alongand angularly ,relatively' to .saidguide means and into engagement with said electric contact.

2. Ina side slippingrelectrically indicating weft detector .having ;abody, guide means extending hackwardly and forwardly on the body, a weftdetector member .mountedior-slidingi and angular movement on vsaid.;body, a daterally extending arm on said ,member vslidable .along :andmovable angularly with respect ,to :the guide means .and extendingonoppositesides of said guide-means, a s topton the-body engaging said armonlopposite sides of the guide :.means, a spring onisaidbody normallyholding .the arm against said stop to locate said ,deteetor member innormal position, and van electric ;contact insulated from said 'body and-normally,spaced from said arm, the .latter wh amovin a mafl wi h re tth auide m an n a ng said elec c n a t- 3. v I n a side sliopingelectrically indicating weft detector having a body, a backwardly and,iorwardly extending guiderod mountedon thelbody a block [of insulatingmaterial .on said vbody extending on opposite .sides of said guide rod,-a weft detector member ,-mounted for sliding vand angular movement on,said body and ha in a lateral ,anm extending .along said 'opposite(sides of ,said guide red, .the latter extending through the arm andthelatter being slidableialong and movable angularly with respect to theguide rod, springmeans mounted onthe-bodylengaging said a mvandi q d nat l tt r-a n sa oppos t sides of saidblockto locate the detector memberin normal position, andan electric contact. oarried byi saidb oc a dnQrma snac d-imm said arm th l e (w s d n a n :and mov n angularlyrelatively to said guide rodmovinginto engagement .Withsaid .electriceontact.

A. in a s de p in el e ric n ind catin we 'd tecto havi a-a bad-y,iblocke i su ating mater al-on said lbod .an ,elwtric on a t carriedhyhsaidgblocki a uide rod extending lhachwardly and forwardly on thebody and having the rear end thereof supported by said block, a weftdetector member mounted for sliding and angular movement on the body andhaving an arm surrounding the guide rod and slidable therealong andmovable angularly relatively to said guide rod and said block, andspring means engaging the arm and normally holding the latter againstsaid block to locate said detector member in normal position with thearm out of engagement with said electric contact, said detector memberwhen moving angularly relatively to said body against the action of saidspring means causing said arm to slide along said guide rod and moveangularly relatively to the block and into engagement with the electriccontact.

5. In a weft detector having a body, a side slipping weft detectormember mounted on said body for sliding and angular movement relativelythereto, a lateral arm projecting from said detector member, a stopcarried by said body, spring means holding said arm against said stop tolocate the detector member in normal position, and an electric contactcarried by and insulated from said body, said detector member movingangularly through two stages when indicating weft exhaustion and duringthe first stage moving about a point of contact between said stop andsaid arm to cause engagement between said arm and said contact and inthe second stage moving about a point of engagement between said arm andsaid electric contact.

6. In a weft detector having a body, a side slipping weft detectormember mounted on the body for sliding and angular movement relativelythereto, a stop on said body, an electric contact supported by andinsulated from the body, an arm forming part of said detector member,and resilient means holding said arm against said stop and out ofengagement with said electric contact, said detector member whenindicating weft exhaustion moving angularly through a first stage abouta point of contact between said arm and said stop to cause said arm tomove into engagement with the electric contact and said memberthereafter moving through a second angular stage about a point ofengagement between said arm and said electric contact.

'7. In a weft detector having a body, a weft detector member movableslidably and angularly with respect to the body, an electric contactinsulated from the body, a lateral arm forming part of the detectormember, a stop for the arm, a spring mounted on the body and normallyholding said arm against the stop to locate the detector member innorma1 positic and a. stationary guide rod extending backwardly andforwardly n the body and passing through said spring and arm andsupported by said stop, said detector member when indicating weftexhaustion having a first stage of angular movement against the actionof said spring around a point of contact between said arm and said stopas the arm moves relatively to said guide rod to cause engagementbetween the arm and electric contact, and said detector member having asecond stage of angular movement about a point of engagement between aidarm and said electric contact as said arm continues to move relativelyto said guide rod.

8. In a weft detector having a body, a weft detector member mounted onsaid body for sliding and angular movement relatively thereto, saidmember having a rearwardly extending part supporting a bobbin feeler tipand having a forward extension, a lateral arm on said memberintermediate said forward extension and said tip, a stop on the body forsaid arm, resilient means engaging said arm and holding the latteragainst said stop to locate said tip and forward extension in normalposition, and an electric contact carried by but insulated from saidbody and normally out of engagement with said arm, said detector memberwhen moving angularly relatively to the body causing said arm to engagethe electric contact, said forward extension cooperating with said bodyto maintain said tip in detecting position against the action ofgravity.

9. In a weft detector. having a case formed with top and bottom spacedhorizontal walls, a weft detector element slidably and angularly movableon said body, an arm on said member located between said top and bottomwalls and having-a forward extension between said walls, an electriccontact supported by but insulated from said body and normally out ofcontact with said arm, said detector member when moving angularlyrelatively to the body causing engagement between said arm and electriccontact and said forward extension engaging the upper wall to supportthe rear part of th detector against the action of ravity.

10. In a weft detector having a body provided with spaced top and bottomhorizontal walls, a stop having a vertical surface fixed with respect tosaid body, a weft detector member having a rear wardly extending portionprovided with a bobbin feeler tip and having a laterally extending armand a forward extension in front of said arm, said arm and extensionbeing between said Walls, an electric contact carried by but insulatedfrom said body, and a spring carried by said body normally engaging thearm and holding the latter against said vertical surface to maintainsaid bobbin tip in detecting position against the action of gravityprior to a detecting operation, said detector member during a detectingoperation causing the arm to move away from said vertical wall and intoengagement with said electric contact, and said forward extensionengaging the upper wall to support the rear portion of the detectormember and hold said tip in detecting position against the action ofgravity while said arm is out of engagement With said vertical surface.

11. In a side slipping electrically indicating weft detector having acasing formed of top and bottom members, a depending vertical wall onthe top member, an ascending wall on the bottom member abutting thedepending wall, a block of insulating material fixed with respect to thebottom member and projecting above said ascending wall, means to securesaid members together, parts of said depending wall engaging said block,the latter and said parts of the depending wall cooperating with saidmeans to hold said members in fixed relative angular position, anelectric contact carried by said block of insulating material, and weftdetector means extending into said casing and having a part held againstsaid block of insulating material spaced from said electric contact butmovable angularly upon indication of weft exhaustion into engagementwith said electric contact.

12. In a' side slipping electrically indicating weft detector having acasing formed of top and bottom members, a depending wall formed on saidtop member, an ascending wall on th bottom member abutting the dependingwall, a stop fixed with respect to the bottom member and extending alongthe rear edge thereof, an electric contact carried by said stop andinsulated from said bottom member, means to hold said members together,parts of said depending wall engaging said stop and cooperating withsaid means to prevent angular movement of the members relatively to eachother, and a weft detector extending between said members and having apart h'eld against-said stop and positioned for engagement with saidelectric contact when the detector slips laterally relatively to saidcasing.

13. In a side slipping electrically indicating weft detector having acasing formed of top and bottom members, adepending wall formed on thetop member, an ascending wall formed on the lower member and abuttingthe depending wall, a stop along the rear edge of one of said membersprojecting vertically beyond the wall of said one member into engagementwith the wall of the other member, means to secure said memberstogether, said means and stop and said other wall cooperating to preventrelative angular movement of said members, an electric contact carriedby said stop and insulated therefrom, and a weft detector extendingbetween said members and having a part movable into engagement with saidelectric contact when said element slips laterally relatively to saidcasing.

14. In a side slipping electrically indicating weft detector having acasing formed of top and bottom members, a depending wall on the topmemher, an ascending wall on the lower member abutting the dependinwall, a block along the rear edge of the bottom member, said bottommember and ascending wall and block being integral and formed ofelectric non-conducting material, an electric contact supported by saidblock, and a weft detector having a lateral arm within said casingnormally held against said block and spaced from said electric contact,said element when slipping laterally with respect to the casingeffecting movement of said lateral arm into engagement with saidelectric contact, the upper member being formed of electric conductingmaterial and having provision for attachment to a grounded support.

15. In a side slipping electrically indicating weft detector having acasing formed of top and bottom members, a depending wall on the topmemher, an ascending wall on the bottom member abutting the dependingwall, said walls and members forming a hollow cavity in the casing, anelec. tric contact supported by and insulated with respect to one ofsaid members, a stop formed at the rear part of one of said members, aweft detector having a tip at the rear end thereof and extending intosaid cavity, a lateral arm on said detector element located within thecavity, a curved leaf spring located within the cavity and normallyholding said lateral arm against said stop to position the weft detectorand lateral arm in normal position with the lateral arm out ofengagement with said electric contact, and means extending forwardlyfrom said lateral arm and fixed with respect to the detector element andlocated within said cavity to engage the upper member and assist insupporting the weft detector against downward movement under the actionof gravity, said detector slipping laterally when indicating weftexhaustion and moving said lateral arm into engagement with saidelectriccontact.

16. A weft detector element for a weft detector having top and bottommembers and a stop on one of said members, said detector having also aguide rod, said element comprising a rearwardly extending part providedwith a bobbin feeler tip, a lateral arm to extend along the stop andhaving an opening therein to receive said guide rod, and a forwardextension on said detector element for location between said top andbottom members to cooperate with the top member and support said bobbintip against the action of gravity.

1'7. In a side slipping electric'indicating weft detector having. a bodyprovided with a stop and having an electric contact supported by butinsulated from the body, a Weft detector element having a rearwardlyextending arm provided with a bobbin feeler tip, a lateral arm extendingfrom the detector element toward the electric contact and movableangularl toward said electric contact, and a curved leaf spring bearingagainst said arm and holding the latter against said stop out ofengagement with the electric contact, said spring being so shaped thatas the lateral arm moves angularly toward said electric contact during aside slipping movement of the detector element the point of engagementbetween the spring and said lateral arm moves progressively away fromsaid electri contact.

RICHARD G. TURNER.

